Fans Gather At Musial Statue To Pay Their Respects

ST. LOUIS, MO (KTVI)- A memorial has been growing in memory of Stan “The Man” Musial at his well-known statue outside of Busch Stadium. It was started Saturday night as news spread of the Cardinals legend’s death at age 92.

“There’s no words to even describe him. He’s the man,” said Cardinals fan Steven Manne as he looked at the memorial early Sunday morning.

Fans left all kinds of items to honor the greatest Cardinal of them all. From baseballs to hats to the harmonica that Musial loved to play, people came out to pay their respects to #6.

Nancy and Valle Cotter came from Belleville. They brought flowers and their love for “Stan the Man”. At one point, Valle cotter offered him a salute.

“He just made baseball what it was. I wish it was still that way now. He was just a gentleman, I mean the perfect guy,” said Valle Cotter.

Nancy Cotter added, “When I first heard it on the news last night, really tears come to your eyes. It just has to. And then today, we want to celebrate and want to remember him and want to pay respects and give him our love, give his family our love.”

Brooks Maxwell and Steven Manne worked all night Saturday into Sunday morning, but they still came to spend a few moments reflecting on Stan’s amazing career and life.

“I’m sad but at the same time I feel very good about his career, his life. I feel like he did a lot for us,” said Maxwell.

“He is St. Louis. He is the Cardinals. There wouldn’t be the Cardinals without him. And there’s nobody else that can top him,” added Manne.

There is a second, smaller statue of Musial outside of Busch Stadium. Fans were leaving items there as well. Others simply took pictures of it all. Whatever the case, everyone told us “The Man” will never be forgotten.

Cardinals fan Laura Janaske may have summed it up best by saying, “He’s the Cardinal. He’s the one that all the players and the fans alike have looked up to for years. They all strive to be like him. He makes sure he’s around for them. He’s just like the captain of Cardinal Nation.”